1936-09-11
N/A
66 min
Dr. Laurence, a once-respectable scientist, begins to research the origin of the mind and the soul. The science community rejects him, and he risks losing everything for which he has worked. He begins to use his discoveries to save his research and further his own causes, thereby becoming... a Mad Scientist, almost unstoppable...
Boris Karloff ("Dr. Laurience") is once again in well trodden guise as a scientist - long shunned by his peers for ideas none too ethical. He employs Anna Lee ("Dr. Wyatt") as his assistant, despite her being advised against it by colleagues and her rather wooden beau John Loder ("Dick Haslewood"), himself a budding reporter on a newspaper owned by his wealthy father "Lord Haslewood" (Frank Cellier). Karloff meets and manages to work his charms on the father, getting him to fund his fantastic scientific experiments aimed at mind transfer in return for exclusive publishing rights. Of course it doesn't go to plan for Karloff, and when his backer loses faith he must act - and test his theories for real! Robert Stevenson knew how to get the most from Karloff. His maniacal, almost demonic, expressions as he becomes even more obsessed with his project are enjoyable to watch. Lee is decent as the aide - much less of the damsel-in-distress hysterics as the story hots up; and the last twenty minutes is quickly paced with plenty going on. It's only an hour, and it doesn't hang about - it packs a lot in and the gadgets burr and wheeze, indeed the effects are quite decent. Will he get away with it, well....?
